Mo Ran’s appearance reminded Zhang Chen of the spider queen’s defiant expression and peerless combat prowess.
She was also the first being to push Zhang Chen to the brink of death.
At this moment, Mo Ran’s features were almost indistinguishable from the spider queen’s, except her skin was younger, and the sinister gaze was replaced by a flowing, ineffable emotion.
“Daddy, do I look pretty?”
Mo Ran playfully hopped.
Though her figure was mature, her mind was still that of a young girl.
This hop caused Zhang Chen’s gaze to involuntarily drift downwards. A single glance made his pupils and heart jolt violently.
Mo Ran looked down and then, with a troubled expression, cupped her breasts with both hands.
“I don’t know why they grew so big. It feels strange when they move!”
“Daddy, touch them. Is there something bad growing inside?”
As she spoke, Mo Ran reached for Zhang Chen’s hand. He quickly and awkwardly dodged, then explained with a sheepish smile,
“Uh… this isn’t anything bad. This is something very good, everyone will be envious of you!”
“Really?” Mo Ran turned to look at Xiao Bai, who was hopping around in the distance. Her chest remained unmoving, and her eyes were full of longing.
“Yes, you’ll understand when you grow up a bit more!”
Zhang Chen smiled, patting Mo Ran’s short hair.
“Oh…”
Mo Ran pouted and reluctantly walked away.
In the evening, Zhang Chen treated the core members of the True God Cult, along with Xiao Bai, Mo Ran, and others, to a delicious meal.
There were only about a dozen people in total.
Zhang Chen hesitated to serve every single person a portion of the royal banquet dishes.
After all, the royal banquet was characterized by its opulence. Each person was served dishes in a specific order, and the portions were very generous.
Even the roasted suckling pig was one per person.
Although many dignitaries might only have a bite, the dish was then passed on. However, since people had different preferred parts, they had to serve everything.
Therefore, the portion prepared for one person at the royal banquet was enough for seven or eight people.
Zhang Chen added some other meat ingredients to supplement the meal, completing a sumptuous dinner.
Zhang Chen intentionally instructed Royd not to sleep too early, but to rest hovering tens of meters above the ground.
This way, he could get a clear view of the night.
Everyone ate delicious food and drank fine wine in the room, gazing at the twinkling stars outside the window, truly capturing the essence of a gathering.
Before long, a series of fireworks shot up into the sky, blooming into brilliant flowers in mid-air.
These were arranged by Zhang Chen.
“Wow, so pretty!”
Xiao Bai and Mo Ran rushed to the window curiously, their heads touching as they looked out, discussing which firework was the most beautiful.
Shirley and Zuo Nan instinctively flinched at the sound of the fireworks!
Shirley immediately grabbed her dagger, while Zuo Nan was about to duck under the table…
These were their conditioned reflexes when faced with sudden emergencies.
But they quickly regained their senses.
Although the loud explosions of the fireworks would attract nearby mutated creatures, with Zhang Chen and that group of monsters present, the former should be the ones feeling nervous.
This realization allowed them to relax.
Zuo Nan pretended to pick something up and then awkwardly sat back in his original position.
“Owoo!”
Er Pang came to the window and howled at the sky.
“Owoo~~”
Ao Xue quickly responded in kind.
The two wolf howls echoed far into the night.
The mutated creatures, initially restless and agitated by the sound of the fireworks, instantly calmed down upon hearing these two howls.
“Tonight, have the True God Cult members strengthen their defenses. I’ll have Royd suspend the spray tonight!”
Zhang Chen said, gently patting Zhang Wenwen’s back.
“Understood, True God!”
Zhang Wenwen was a bit tipsy, her cheeks flushed, and her gaze towards Zhang Chen seemed bolder.
However, she knew that Xiao Guanghan and the others were present, so she had to maintain the demeanor of the cult leader.
“Everyone, eat and drink to your heart’s content tonight. Tomorrow, it will be the church’s brethren’s turn. We’ll do it in batches, so there must always be someone on guard!”
Zhang Chen declared.
“The True God always thinks of everything!”
Xiao Guanghan quickly praised.
The other core members of the True God Cult also echoed his sentiments.
“You all continue drinking. I’m going out for a walk!”
Zhang Chen left the manor, walked along the streets at the back of Royd for a while, and then headed outwards.
“Wait, Master!”
Shirley came running after him.
“Hm? Why are you here?”
Zhang Chen, holding a bottle of royal wine, took a sip and asked.
“Uh… it’s getting cold now, so I made a jacket for you. I hope you don’t dislike it!”
Shirley pulled out a piece of clothing and handed it to Zhang Chen with both hands, her face burning like fire, her head buried low.
No wonder Shirley had suddenly asked for his measurements earlier; it was for this.
“Hm, it’s a very beautiful jacket, and it fits perfectly!”
Zhang Chen praised.
This jacket was made from the leather of mutated creatures, but it wasn’t simply pieced together.
Many of the leathers were selected from the toughest yet softest parts. Some of the colors were naturally matched, while others were derived from plant-based dyes.
It was evident that Shirley had put in a great deal of effort. Just for the pigments, she likely had to experiment with hundreds or even thousands of plants and then repeatedly mix them. The combinations for suitable colors would be immense, and achieving them was not simple.
While the obedience potion could make people compliant, it wouldn’t make them proactively do other things.
This was something Shirley had done from the bottom of her heart.
“Thank you!”
Zhang Chen was genuinely moved.
“Oh, Master, you don’t need to thank me. This is only natural. As long as you don’t dislike it!”
Shirley finally smiled happily.
“I’m going for a stroll. Do you want to join me?”
“Can I? That would be great!”
Shirley quickly followed behind Zhang Chen.
After they had walked for a while, Zhang Chen suddenly stopped and put his arm around Shirley’s waist, pulling her forward a couple of steps to be shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
“Why are you walking so far behind? We’re friends now, there’s no need to be so distant!”
Zhang Chen said, pretending to be angry.
“Ah? Mm… Thank you, Master…”
Shirley nodded.
Once a cold-blooded assassin, she now blushed like a maiden smitten by love.
They walked shoulder-to-shoulder for a while, but Shirley habitually drifted back.
Despite repeated attempts, she couldn’t break the habit.
Zhang Chen, feeling helpless, simply kept his arm around Shirley’s slender waist, finally ensuring she kept pace with him.
Shirley’s waist was slim but not at all soft. Even through her clothes, one could feel her defined abdominal muscles, and if he reached a bit further, he could faintly feel her distinct abs.
Shirley felt Zhang Chen’s warm, firm embrace. Coupled with the effect of the alcohol, she felt a bit lightheaded, her cheeks flushed.
After walking for an unknown amount of time like this, Zhang Chen suddenly stopped again.
“Hm? What’s wrong, Master?”
“There… there’s a trap here!”